BMW R18 (1932 to 2027)

The R18 Motorrad name is shared by two very different motorcycles separated by almost 90 years. The original R18 was introduced by BMW in 1932, equipped with a 745cc air cooled, side valve, twin boxer engine, paired to a 4 speed manual transmission and shaft drive. It was primarily designed for sidecar use and geared towards the touring of the era. Decades later, in 2020 BMW revived the name with the modern R18, a large displacement cruiser powered by the largest boxer engine ever produced by the brand: a 1802cc air/oil-cooled, OHV engine with a 6 speed gearbox and exposed shaft drive. It was offered in multiple variants, including the R18, R18 Classic, R18 B, and R18 Transcontinental. As a notable feature, both R18s represent in their respective eras the concept of luxury, torque and presence within BMW, united by the boxer architecture and the cardan shaft, but separated by a monumental technical evolution.